Traditional Native American face Image meanings are based on beliefs that the markings are permanent, and may indicate the return of ancestral practices. As long as the marks are permanent, the marks are considered sacred. In fact, many tribes were so protective of their customs that they did not allow outsiders to see them or learn about their knowledge. However, a woman in Northern California recently had her face tattooed in honor of a spiritual ancestor.
In the United States, Native Americans are increasingly getting face pictures, and the art of getting a tribal design can bring about powerful emotions. People who are not of the tribe may be hesitant to get one, but they are often drawn to the mystical power of the design. Those who are of the same tribe are often drawn to face picture designs that represent ancestral figures. Alicia Manriquez, a member of the Chumash and the Acjachemen nations, recently got a dark line carved on her forehead. Lucero says the image was a spiritual reminder of his family, as his mother had tried to hide his tribal heritage.
